Friday, August 7, 2015

If you're familiar with this 1986 portrait of H. M. Queen Elizabeth II, you've had a fine sampling of the work of Michael Leonard.

H. M. Queen Elizabeth II | 1986 | Michael Leonard

The portrait — now permanently displayed in the National Portrait Gallery, London — was a 1985 commission from Reader's Digest to honor the Queen's 60th birthday. It shows the Queen posed with her corgi Spark.

Michael Leonard was born in India in 1933, to British parents. He returned to England to complete his education, and then his military service, and then he studied commercial art and illustration at St. Martin's School of Art in London.

Though he spent many years working successfully as a commercial artist, he yearned to be a painter, and as he says, "make pictures for the wall rather than the page."

Mrs. Murphy | 1973 | Michael Leonard

Early paintings tended to be muted, possibly as a reaction to the vibrancy of the commercial work he'd done.

Hugo's Window | 1975 | Michael Leonard

But year by year, Leonard's paintings became more colorful and rich.

Ernst Junger | 1976 | Michael Leonard

I really like how dynamic these compositions are,

especially the one below of Frederick Georg Junger.

Frederick Georg Junger | 1976 | Michael Leonard

Stoker and George | 1981 | Michael Leonard

Double Portrait: Edward Lucie-Smith | 1983 | Michael Leonard

Adrian Ward Jackson | 1987 | Michael Leonard

Through the years, Michael Leonard has created what he calls "Portraits in Time." They're inspired by that interesting phenomenon whereby we recognize (at least I do) that some people look as though they could fit into another place and time. Here are some delightful examples:

Naomi Buchanan in the style of John Cox

David Rust in the style of Ingres

click to enlarge | Michael Leonard

David Newman in the style of Kneller

Lady Pamela Hicks in the style of Romney

click to enlarge | Michael Leonard

William Burlington in the style of Van Dyck
Robin Katz in the style of Bronzino

click to enlarge | Michael Leonard

The Portraits in Time that I've showcased here span from 1984-2003. Below is a Michael Leonard self-portrait (also a Portrait in Time). Click on his portrait, and you'll be linked to his website.

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The comment below from my blogging friend Jim, of The Road to Parnassus, reminded me of Horizon Magazine's different take on Portraits in Time. Back in the 1950s or early 1960s, Horizon contrasted ancient sculptures to celebrities of the time. I was fortunate to find a few of those marvelous comparisons.

I've seen this portrait many times, and thought it was the most flattering portrait of the Queen, at least in older age. My own favorite is the coronation portrait by Pietro Annigoni, in large part I think because it harkens back to the Renaissance in style.

Hello Mark, Sometimes one spots people in old paintings or ancient sculpture who look curiously modern (I think that some of these came up in connection wit your Pompeii project), and Michael Leonard's Portraits in Time seem to work this from the opposite perspective.--Jim

Thanks for your comment! As you can see, your mention of sculptures reminded me of a wonderful spread that Horizon Magazine did long before Michael Leonard's clever work. Yes, you're right, time-traveling works in both directions, and sometimes life imitates art, and sometimes life imitates art imitating life, and sometimes . . .